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Sweden

Sweden possesses a heady combination of chic cities, serene coastal towns, sparse arctic landscapes and vast tracts of deep green wilderness. From the bars, galleries, boutiques and museums of Stockholm to the remnants of a Viking past scattered throughout the countryside, effortlessly stylish Sweden wears both its modern and ancient faces very well.

Sweden trip reviews

Ian Griffiths

Even if one doesn't see the Northern Lights, (and this trip has as good a chance as any to do that, based on its duration and location and expertise of the guide), there are lots of other brilliant things to do in Kiruna!

Review submitted
24 Feb 2015

Sweden trip reviews

Our Sweden trips score an average of 5
out of 5
based on 1 reviews in the last year.

Best time to visit Sweden

Generally Sweden has a temperate climate thanks to the Gulf Stream, although above the Arctic Circle winter can get extremely cold. Sweden's northerly position has a definite summer advantage in that temperatures are rarely extreme and humidity levels are not high, with the average temperature during summer being 22 degrees Celcius. In the south, winter is generally mild with an average temperature above 0 degrees Celsius, but temperatures can vary greatly around the country. It tends to rain more in the months of March, April, October and November. July and August are generally the busiest months for tourism in Europe, outside of these times you will experience fewer crowds.

Geography and environment

Europe's fifth largest country is a densely forested, green enclave bordered by Norway, Finland and the Baltic Sea. Home to pristine rivers, areas of thick woodlands, pure lakes and windswept islands, Sweden boasts an environment rich in incredible natural beauty. Most of the population lives in the south, with cities and towns concentrated away from the cold temperatures, snow and unforgiving terrain of the Arctic north. Sweden's urban centres and suburbs are largely built with respect to the natural world, with dedicated green spaces and waterways common features of many large cities and towns.

Top Picks

Top 5 After Dark Adventures in Sweden

1. Old Town

Stockholm's quaint Old Town (known as Gamla Stan to locals) gets a little magic sprinkled over it as dusk settles. Wander the charming, cobbled alleys, stop at pubs that date back to medieval times, browse at market stalls full of handmade crafts and slip into cool jazz clubs after the sun sets.

2. Aquatic Ales

Although Stockholm has no shortage of bars, clubs and restaurants, there's nothing quite like being on the water in such a beautiful city. Stockholm's waterfront is home to several floating bars - located on pontoons and even old ships - so after a day of sightseeing, why not wind down on the water.

3. When in Sweden

There is nothing quite like the northern European trend of Schlager music. Catchy and unashamedly commercial, singing along to Eurovision-esque tunes in a Schlager bar may not be the coolest thing to do, but it certainly provides insight into Swedish culture. Come on, you know you want to!

4. Northern Lights

Heading north to the Arctic region of Sweden offers the best chance to catch the mesmerising phenomenon known as the Aurora Borealis. Dancing, glittering, coloured lights skip through the sky creating a nightly visual feast of kaleidoscopic proportions.

5. Chill Out

With the bar, walls, chairs and glasses being carved from ice, Stockholm's Absolut Ice Bar is a bone-chillingly good gimmick. Put on the provided parka and gloves, sit in your ice chair and sip on cool cocktails made with Absolut. While not cheap, it's well worth checking out.

FAQs on Sweden

Tipping is done on a voluntary basis in Sweden and is generally left up to the discretion of the customer. If the service in a cafe or restaurant is good, feel free to leave spare change or round up the bill.

Travellers should be able to access the internet at cyber cafes and Wi-Fi hot spots in Sweden's major cities and towns. Remote and rural areas will have less internet availability, so be prepared for this when travelling out of the city.

Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.

Please note these dates are for 2013. For a current list of public holidays go to: http://www.worldtravelguide.net/sweden/public-holidays

Health and Safety

Intrepid takes the health and safety of its travellers seriously, and takes every measure to ensure that trips are safe, fun and enjoyable for everyone. We recommend that all travellers check with their government or national travel advisory organisation for the latest information before departure:

From US?

From UK?

The World Health Organisation

Responsible Travel

Sweden Travel Tips

Intrepid is committed to travelling in a way that is respectful of local people, their culture, local economies and the environment. It's important to remember that what may be acceptable behaviour, dress and language in your own country, may not be appropriate in another. Please keep this in mind while travelling.

Top responsible travel tips for Sweden

1. Be considerate of Sweden’s customs, traditions, religion and culture.